For Kids

2012 Junior Ranger campers having fun and being silly in Rock Creek Park.

Join us for Summer 2013 Day Camps!

(All camps for seven to eight year olds are now full. For camps for nine to 15 year olds, see below, but sign up as soon as possible... Most camps are almost full).

Broaden your child's park-horizon by enrolling them in a camp designed to promote educational experiences and recreational activities in a safe and fun learning environment. New this year are several thematic camps that have never before been offered.

Sign-ups for all camps begin at 9:00 a.m. on May 1st. Sign your camper(s) up in person at the Nature Center or by calling 202-895-6070.

All camps are free; absolutely no cost!

Here is the camp schedule in chronological order:

Like to Hike Camp

On day hikes ranging in length from six to eight miles, campers will enjoy healthy exercise, play fun trail games, and discover hidden gems, while learning about the park's nature and history. This two day camp runs from Wednesday, June 26 to Thursday, June 27. Camp runs from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Camp is open to children ages 11 - 13. The camp is based out of the Nature Center.

Junior Ranger Camp

In this "classic" summer camp, children will discover Rock Creek Park through a myriad of activities including nature hikes, arts and crafts, astronomy programs in the planetarium,gristmill tours, and more! These two day camps run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The camp for ages seven to eight runs from Wednesday, July 10 to Thursday, July 11 (this camp is full). The camp for ages nine to 10 runs from Wednesday, July 17 to Thursday, July 18. And the camp for ages 11 to 2 runs from Wednesday, July 24 to Thursday, July 25. The camp is based out of the Nature Center.

Georgetown Colonial Kids Camp (camp is full) Using the oldest building in all of Washington, D.C. as home base, children will explore what life was like for Georgetown residents in the 1770s. Campers will explore the Old Stone House, learn and play colonial games, stroll through Montrose Park, and splash around in the Georgetown Waterfront Park splash fountain. This one day camp runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m at Old Stone House. The camp for ages seven to nine runs on Wednesday, July 31. The camp for ages 10 to 12 runs on Wednesday, August 7. The camp is based out of Old Stone House.

Astronomy Camp

Campers will discover the wide world of astronomy through activities such as planetarium films, star-gazing through a telescope, NASA's Exercise Like an Astronaut program, and twilight nature hikes. This one day camp runs from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The camp for ages 10 to 12 is on Thursday, August 1 and the camp for ages seven to nine is on Thursday, August 8 (the August 8 camp is full). The camp is based out of the Nature Center.

Art in the Park Camp

Utilizing the park's inspirational setting as their canvas, campers will explore several artistic staples such as drawing, painting, and writing. Campers will visit the cabin of eccentric American poet Joaquin Miller and use it as a backdrop to write poetry. Campers will then hike down to a scenic spot along Rock Creek to paint and to explore the recreational and health benefits of making art. This one day camp for ages 11 to 13 will take place on Friday, August 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The camp is based out of the Nature Center.

Environmental Stewardship Academy

This unique camp will introduce middle schoolers to the joy and passion of the outdoors while at the same time teaching safety, respect, and care for the environment. Campers will take an in-depth look at the park's natural resources, research and investigate an environmental issue of their choosing such as stormwater runoff, climate change, or illegal dumping, and participate in a hands-on resource management project. At the end of camp, campers will work in teams to make presentations. This three day camp for ages 13 to 15 will run from Wednesday, August 14 to Friday, August 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. The camp is based out of the Nature Center.